Controlling mechanism



Oct. 15, 1929. w, wlNEMAN 1,731,694

CONTROLLING MECHANISM Original Filed July 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l O t 1-5, 1 29- w. H. WINEMAN 1,731,694

CONTROLLING MECHANI S M Original Filed July 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ililil Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFIC E- WADE WINEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO SULLIVAN'MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS CONTROLLING MECHANISM Application filed July 5, 1923, Serial No. 649,543. Renewed July 28, 1927.

My invention relates to controlling mechanisms, and more particularly to controlling mechanisms for providing timed operation of pumping mechanisms or other fluid oper ated devices which may be controlled by such controlling mechanisms.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling mechanism for providing adjustable timing of a mechanism controlled thereby. A further object of my invention is to provide improved control mechanism controlling the supply and interruption of flow of power medium. A still further object is to provide improved means for controlling the supply and the exhaust of pumping fluid for a pumping mechanism, said control mechanism being adjustable to rovide for variation in the relative duration of the periods during which the pumping mechanism is connected with supply and with exhaust. A still "further object of my invention is to provide an improved pressure fluid operated pumping system having improved controlling mechanism of such nature as to provide for a regular and continuous operation of the pumping mechanism. These and other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear more fully.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of lllustratlon one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings, Fig. 1 1s a view in dlagrammatic form of a system in which my improved controlling mechanism is embodied.

Figs. 2 and 3 are central vertical longitudinal sections through pumping chambers forming parts of this improved system.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the illustrative embodiment of my controlling mechanism.

F lg. 5 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of F 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 5, also on an enlarged scale. i

In the accompanying drawings I have for purposes of illustration shown one embodiment of my invention incorporated in a displacement pumping, system ofa generally well known type. In this mechanism, a compressor 1 supplies pressure fluid through a line 2 to a connection 3 with my improved control mechanism which is generally'desig' nated4. Under the control of this mechanism the fluidis herein distributed by branchlines 5 and 6 alternately to a pair of displacement tanks 7 and 8, the displacement tank 8 being filled. with liquid from a well 9 and discharging to the tank 7 while the tank 7 discharges through a line 10 to any desiredpoint of use. It will of course be understood that series of alternately acting tanks may be employed if desired. To aid in the filling and discharging of these tanks provision is made whereby the tank which is being filled may be eon starting of the system or to fill up the system as air is absorbed and carried away by the liquid pump. Of course, however, the line 11 and related parts may be omitted if desired.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7, it will be noted that the lines 5 and 6 are connected to a valve chest 14, herein respectively connecting to chambers 15 and 16 below the valve seat 17 in the valve chest. The valve seat 17 is traversed by a series of ports, ports 18 and 19 leading to the chambers 15 and 16, ac'entral port 20 leading to a chamber 21 connected to the line 11 and a port 22 opening into a chamber 23to which the line 2 leads. Reciprocable in the valve chest 14 and upon the valve seat 17 is a slide valve 24 having a recess 25 formed therein which is adapted alternately to connect the ports 15 and 16 with the port 20 and the valve 24 with its outer edges controls the communication of the ports 18 and 19 with the supply of pumping fluid which enters'the chest through the port 22. The valve 24 is provided with a bypass passage 26 which is adapted in mid-position of the valve as shown in Fig. 7 to interconnect the ports 18 and 19 and so to permit equalization of pressure in the unfilled spaces in the tanks 7 and 8 as the valve Sl'lll. s its position. The valve 24 is provided with a valve stem 27 having an annular groove 28 therein with which the extremity of a rocking lever 29 cooperates on actuation ot the latter in a manner which will hereinafter be made plain.

The valve chest 14 is supported on a has plate 30 upon which are arranged parallel cylinders 31 and 32. l l ithin the cylinder 31 a piston 33 is reciprocable. This pi upper end carries a relatively heavy weight 3% which aids in returning the piston 33 to the bottom of the cylinder 31. Movable with thepiston 33 is a cross head 35 to which a piston rod 36 is connected. At the lower end of this piston rod is a piston 37 which is reciprocable in the cylinder 32. The cylinder 32 is filled with oil nearly to top and communicating with the bore oi the cylinder points spaced above and below the mid-position of the piston 37 is a by-pass 38 which is controlled by a stop valve 39. It will be evi dent that the stop valve 39, it nearly closed, will renderthe movement of the p ton relatively quite slow during mid-travel, while it open to a considerable extent will permit fairly rapid movement of the piston 37.

Other valve-controlled. lay-passes 38 and 38 communicate with the bore of the cylinder 32 respectively near the top of the latterand at a point somewhat below the upper communication with the cylinder bore of the bypass 38 and at a point adjacent the bottom of the cylinder 32and at a point somewhat aoove the lower communication of the bypass 38. The function of these last mentioned bypasses 38 and 38", which are respectively controlledby valves 39 and 39, is to vary therate of movement of the valve the lay-pass 38 and valve 39 exercising no con referred to constitutes one arm there-0t.

bell crank lever 4.41s ournaled 1n bea ings 45 trol on the rate of moven'icnt of the valve but varying the intervals between valve movements, as hereinafter explained. The cross head '35 is adapted to actuate an operat nuts 43 which engage the opposite sidesof an operating lever l i-and move the same whenth'e rod 40 is-moved. The lever 4.4 is a bell crank lever and the lever 29 previously on n i lo of which one-is shown in Fi s. l anti 5 he other being concealed byoth-er "mec n.

Theleve'r 44 also carries therewith a-tlat reia "tivel broad roiection 4:6 whose o )Dosite sides are arranged bosses 4:3 carrying screws 4-.7 projecting'towards each other and adapted alternately engage the arm 48 of a l ell crank lever 49 which is pivoted on a stub LOill of the port M- b the groove 69, while in ti heft 5O projecting from a bearing supporting member 51 upon which the other bearing 5 is also carried. The bell crank le er at its upper end carries a weight 52. Oscillating witn the bell crank lever 4 9 and o 3'G1'- ably cast integral therewith in alinement with the weight carryi portion hereof is z lever portion 5% whose lower extremity is adapted alternately to engage the end 55 of a valve member 56 or a collar 1;? which is rigidly carried on the stem ot the valve 56. A pin 59 is arranged to limit the movement of the valve stem 5 toward the left (see 8) while an enlarged portion or collar 60 of the valve 56 limits its movement in the opposite direction. A. connection 61 controlled by an adjustable pressure reducing valve 61. is supplied with air from the compressor discharge line 2 and communicates with a valve chest 62, in which the valve 56 is reciprocable, by way of a port 63. A passage fi l also coinmunicates with the valve chest at a spaced t and this passage leads at to the betthe inte 'ior oi the cylinder 31. The valve 56 is of tie two spool type having spools 6'? and (S8 spaced oy an intermcdate groove ($9. T e spool 6'? is of such that in one posi n of the valve it li right of the passage fi l while in the position it lies wholly to the lc t of this p. i

As a result, in one extreme position of the valve 58, the inlet port 63 is c" rooted to other cine-position the port 6acommuni cates ely with the atmosphere. ad just-merit of the pressnre reducing valve 61 the air supply beneath the piston may be regulated and so the time of upward move me; L- of the piston varied. The imp of this will subsequently appear, it being noted now that with given setting oi the valve 39. and referring to the mid-portion of thep-istons travel, it possible by adj usting the valve 61. to y the speed ot upward movement of 1 L ton 33 while the downward movement will be at a constant speed.

From the foregoing description the mode of operation of this mechanism will 1 readily apparent. bluppose the parts arranged as shown in F 4, 5,45, 7 and 8. In this position of the parts it will be noted that air is being supplied from the compressor discharge line through the passage 63, the groove 69 and the passage 6a to the port 65 where it acts in the cylinder 31 to move the piston 33 upwardly. During this portion 0*? the upwaia travel. the speed is wholly controlled by the valve 39 and depending on the extent to which this is closed the period of intercomn'zunication between the chambers 7 and 8 will be protracted or diminished. It will be obseiwod that the cross head 35 is acting upon the stop member 42 and as a rcsultthe bell crank lever 41% being swung in a clockwise direction. This has caused the valve member 24 to be ill) moved by the arm 29 to interconnect the passages 18 and 19 as shown in Fig. 7, and further movement will shift the air supply from the passage 5 to the passage 6. Due to the valves passing through the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the tanks 7 and 8 are interconnected, air economy is secured, the necessary period of communication being secured by proper adjustment of the valve 39. It will be noted that when the lever 44 has been swung through a sufficientangle, the upper screw 47 acting on the 21 311 18 will move the lever a9 beyond a vertical position and the weight 52 will then complete, sharply, the swing of the lever 49. As a result, the valve 56 will be moved to a position in which the passage 64 is connected to the atmosphere so that the piston 33 will be free to descend by its own weight and that of the weight 34. It will be noted from Fig. 8 that the lever 49 may swing during the entire mid-portion of its travel without actuating the valve 56, and in fact that it is only at the extreme end of its travel, that the lever 49 will cause movements of the valve 56. As a result the valve 56 will always be thrown sharply and no time lost in the change of the position of the valve. When the weight 34: and the weight of the piston 33 have moved the latter sufiiciently far downward in the cylinder 31, the cross head 35 will engage the stop l1 and as a result the lever 44; Will be gradually moved downward, shifting the valve 24 in the opposite direction, and after a sufficiently great movement, tilting the lever 49 up in a counter-clockwise direction past the vertical position and so causing a sharp throwing of the valve 56 in the opposite direction with supply of air once more to the port 64. It will be understood that during downward movement of the piston 33 the rate ot movement will be controlled by the valves 89 and 39 after the piston passes beyond the lower end of the bypass 38. It will -further be observed that by adjustment of the valve 61' a varied rate of upward movement can be secured with a constant rate of downward movement and so filling and emptying periods oi the tanks 7 and 8 made uneuual. By means of the mechanism described, it will be observed that the tanks 7 and 8 will be alternately connected to the compressor suction and discharge lines and so will be caused'to fill and empty in alternation.

lVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms of the same without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a fluid distributing l'nechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adapted to con-- nect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and inter-;

mediately to interconnect said passages out of communication wlth both supply and exhaust and means for automaticall movin said valve operative to effect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements.

2. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply,

cally controlling the rate of movement of said movable element.

3. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to which. fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adapted to con nect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said passages out or" communication with both supply and exhaust, and means for automatically movi. g said valve operative to effect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements, said last men tioned means including a valve operating motor having relatively movable cylinder and piston elements, a control valve, means including a lost motion connection for connecting said valve to the movable one of said elements, and means for mechanically controlling the rate ofmovement of said movable element.

4. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means, providing a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adapted to corn nect one oi said passages to supply and the other to'exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said passages out of communication with both supply and exhaust, and means ,for automatically moving said valve operative to eflect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements, said last mentioned means including a valve operating motor having relatively movable cylinder and piston elements, a control valve, means including a trigger mechanism for connecting said valve to the movable one of said elements, and means for mechanically controlling the rate of movement of said movable element.

5. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising iii-cans provimg a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adapted to connect one of said passages to supply and t is other to exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said pass out of communication with both supply and exhaust, and means for automatically moving said valve opera 've to eiilect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such moven'ients, said last mentioned means including a valve operating motor having relatively iovablc cylinder and piston elements, a control. valve, means including a lost motion connection and a trigger mechanism for connectin said valve to the movable one of said clef. is, and means for mechanically controlling the rate of movement of said movable element.

6. In combination, a :l'luid distributing mechanism comprising means pre" ding a pair of passages relative to which fluid t be supplied and exln 1d, a fluid supply, an ez-zaaust, and valve r us adapted to con no 't one oi" said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and inter mediately to interconnect said out of comuiiunication with both supply and cxhaust, and means for automatically moving said valve operative to effect such. valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements, said last men tioned means including a single actiu valve operating motor having relatively movable cylinder and piston elements a control valve, means for connecting said v .e to the movable one of said elements, means for positively moving said movable element in one direction, and means for mechanically con trolling the rate movement of said movable element.

7. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to supplied and Xhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adt Led to conna t one o'lf said passages to supply and the oher to exhaust and vice versaand intermed ing valve operating motor having relatively movable cylinder and piston elements, a con trol valve, means for connecting said valve to the movable one of said elements, a Weight supported on said movable element, and means mechanically controlling the rate of movement of said movable element.

8. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an evhaust, and valve means adapt-ed to connect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said passages out of communication With. both supply and exhaust, and means for automatically moving said valve operative to effect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements, said last mentioned means including a valve operating motor having relatively movable cylinder and piston elements, a control valve, means "for connecting said valve to the movable one said elements, means for mechanically controlling the rate of movement of said movable element, and a lost motion connection between the movable element and said valve means.

9. ln combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages relative to Which fluid is to be supplied and exhausted, a fluid supply, an exhaust, and valve means adapted to con.- nect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said passages out of communication With both supply and exhaust, and means for automatically moving said valve operative to effect such valve movements at variable intervals and to vary the rate of such movements, said last mentioned means including a valve operating motor having rel ativcly movable cylinder and piston elements, control valve, means for connecting said valve to the movable one of said elements, means for mechanic-ally controlling the rate of movement of said movable element, a lever for actuating said valve means, and a lost mot-ion connection between said lever and said movable element.

10 In a controlling mechanism, a valve and controlling means therefor including a cylinder, a piston therein, a valve controlling the movement of said piston in said cylinder, means for throwing said second mentioned valve including a pivoted Weighted lever, means for hunting the movements of said valve and lever, and means for throiving said'lever having a lost motion connection therewith and with said piston.

11. In combination, a fluid distributing mechanism comprising means providing a pair of passages, and a controlling mechanism adapted to connect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa and intermediately to interconnect said passages including a valve controlling said passages, said valve being operative in midtravel to interconnect the passages out of communication with both supply and exhaust, and operating means for said valve to cause a relatively slow movement thereof including a dash pot controlling the movement of said valve.

12. In combination, a valve operative in different positions to effect difl'erent fluid controlling functions, means for actuating said valve from one of said positions to another, and controlling mechanism connected to said valve actuating means having an adjustable means tor regulating the action of said controlling mechanism for timing the periods during which said valve remains stationary in each of said positions and the period required for shifting from one of such positions to another.

13. In combination, a valve movable to opposite extreme positions in which it eil ects diil'erent fluid controllino functions and 0 erative in an intermediate position to effect a third fluid controlling function, valve actuating means for moving said valve from one of said extreme positions to another through said intermediate position, and controlling,

mechanism connected to said valve actuating .means having adjustable means for regulating the action oji' said controlling mechanism for variably timing the periods during which said valve remains in each of said extreme positions and for independently controlling the periods required for shifting from one position to another.

1.4. In combination, a valve casing having passages therein, a valve in said casing operative in different extreme positions to permit supply of live pressure fluid to different passages and in an intermediate position to eflect a different fluid controlling function, means tor actuating said valve from one of said extreme positions to another including a reciprocable member having a lost motion connecti on with said valve so that said valve remains stationary during movement of said member over an intermediate zone and is actuated from one position to another during movement of said. member over the end zones, and means for controlling the rate of movement of: said reciprocable member to vary independentl y the rates of movement oi such member over the intermediate zone and the opoo. end zones, to provide independent timing the periods during which said valve remains in each oi its extreme positions and oi the periods required for shifting "from one of said positions to another.

15. in combination, a reciprocable valve operative in opposite extreme positions to etiect dille rent fluid controlling functions and in an intermediate position to eli'ect a still difmember having a lost motion connection with said valve, means for applying an unbalanced force to said member in opposite directions,

which force remains substantially constant over the entire range of movement of sand member in each direction, controlling mechanism connected to said reciprocable member comprising a dashpot cylinder and a relatively reciprocable piston in said cylinder, the length of said lost motion connection being such as to permit substantial movement of said reciprocable member over an intermediate zone while said valve remains stationary in one or the other of its extreme positions, a valved bypass connected to said dashpot cylinder for controlling the rate of movement of said member over said intermediate zone to control the periods during which said valve remains stationary in its opposite extreme positions, and other valved bypasses connected to said cylinder for independently controlling the rate of movement of said member over the end zones to regulate the rates of movement of said valve during shifting.

16. In combination, a reciprocable valve operative in difierent extreme positions to permit supply of pressure fluid to diflerent passages and in an intermediate position to connect one of said passages to a different source of pressure fluid, means for actuating said valve from one of said positions to an other comprising a reciprocable member, means for applying an unbalanced force in opposite directions to said member, which force remains substantially constant over its entire range of movement, means providing a lost motion connection between said member and said valve permitting movement of said member over an intermediate zone while said valve remains stationary in one of its extreme positions and permitting actuation of said valve during movement over the end zones, controlling mechanism comprising a dashpot cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and connected to said member, and a plurality of overlapping valved bypasses for independently varying the rate of movement of said controlling member over its intermediate and end zones to regulate the periods during which said valve remains stationary in opposite extreme positions and the periods during which said valve is in said intermediate position. i

17. In combination, a valve chest providing a pair of passages, a fluid supply connection, an exhaust connection, a valve member reciprocable in said valve chest to connect one of said passages to supply and the other to exhaust and vice versa in opposite extreme positions, and in an intermediate position to interconnect said passages, valve actuating means connected to said member, and adjustable regulating means for varying the action of said controlling mechanism for independently timing the periods during which said Valve remains in. each of its extreme positions and for independently varying the rate of move mentduring shifting to regulate the period during which said passages are interconnected,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WADE H. WINEMAN. 

